Match arranging and feeding



Feb 26, 1935. J. c. DONNELLY MATCH ARRANGING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed July 12, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 0 Joaeph E170 Feb. 26, 1935. J. c. DONNELLY MATCH ARRANGING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed July 12, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIII mmf IEI

Feb. 26, 1935. J. c. DONNELLY MATCH ARRANGING AND FEEDING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 12, 1932 \Rm mm mQ Q 1 mm mm mm Feb 26, 1935. J. c.. DONNELLY MATCH ARRANGIN G AND FEEDING'MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 12; 1932 Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES MATCH ARRANGING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Joseph C. Donnelly, Barberton, Ohio, assignor'to The Diamond Match Company, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application July 12, 1932, Serial No. 622,06l I 14 Claims.

This invention relates to match arranging and feeding mechanism, more particularly to mechanism for arranging rows of parallel matches, and

feeding them with their heads pointing in the same direction to the spaced-apart holders of the match conveyer of a match packeting machine.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means whereby succeeding rows of matches are efficiently delivered to a suitable supporting structure extending outwardly from one side of the conveyer, and advanced progressively along said structure to and upon the conveyer in such manner that the rows of matches on the structure are visible and accessible to the operator, thus enabling him to watch the progressing rows of matches and readily fill any vacancy that may appear therein before the rows are ultimately delivered to the conveyer of a match packetingmachine, thereby ensuring the feeding and delivery of a uniform supply of matches for a match packet to each succeeding match holder of the conveyer.

With this and other objects in view my invention comprises novel features of construction and combinations of parts which, in a preferred form, will be hereinafter described; the scope of the invention then being expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings- V Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through a portion of a match packeting machine equipped with mechanisms embodying the-preferred form of my invention for supplying the match conveyer with uniform rows of matches.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a punch head for ejecting plural rows of matches from the pocketed bed of a match supply hopper.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the lower portion of the hopper and the row arranging and 4Q feeding mechanisms, the conveyer for the reception and transportation of succeeding :rows of matches being shown.

Fig.4 is a similar section of the said mechanisms and the conveyer, showing the progressing rows of matches and also a row as seated in they conveyer.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section at the rear of the hopper, as on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, a portion of the hopper wall being broken away.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section of the up per portion of the hopper, as on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a similar section through the row arranging and feeding mechanisms, as on the line 55 77 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a similar section through the lower portion of the hopper, its pocketed bed, and adjuncts. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the row arranging and feeding mechanisms.

Fig. 10 is a detail, in perspective, pocketed portions of the hopper bed. 7

Referring tothe drawings, designatesa suitable supporting frame comprising a bed 16, stand ards 17 and a table 18. r

l9 designates a portion of an intermittently 1 movable match conveyer comprising an endless chain of links-20 and a continuous succession of match holders 21 supported thereon. The upper horizontal run of the chain is mounted and arranged to travel in a longitudinal slot 22 in the table, while the holders on such run are slidably supported in longitudinal guides-220 on the top of the table. The match holders comprise metal plates having in their outer fiat surfaces a prescribed number of equally-spaced parallel match receiving grooves 23 which extend transversely of the path of the plates, the grooves in each plate corresponding in number and relative position with agroup of matches to be packeted. The chain is supported by and; intermittently driven upon suitably arranged sprocketwheels, of which one. is shown at 24, which wheels are actuated in any usual or approved manner to impel the chain of one of the uniformlystep-by-step and advance the grooved the filling station and there supplied with uniform rows of parallel matches having their heads pointing in the same direction, and hence in each step of the conveyer it is moved a distance equal to five holders.-

The match supply, mechanism includes a. capacious match containing hopper or magazine 25 spaced some distance rearwardly from the path of the match holders and supported uponia bed 26 having capacity for slight vertical vibration. The hopper herein illustrated comprises front and back walls 27' and 28, respectively, and end walls 29 constructed and arranged to contain and support a mass of matches in substantial parallelism havingtheir heads disposed. at the front wall of the hopper. The bed 26 is provided at its ends with depending legs 30 which are carried by a pair of rocker arms 31 fulcrumed, as at' 32, on suitably-disposed brackets 33 on the table. The lower ends of the legs, are equipped with rolls 34 which rest continuous succession of short vertical movements are rapidly imparted tothe bed 26 and the body of the hopper, therebyagitating and settling the matches within said body and bed.

In order to accommodate the inclinationof the contained matches on account of their headed ends, the upper surface of the hopper bed'is inclined downwardly toward the conveyer 19, and this surface has formed therein a series of similarly inclined concave pockets 42 which extend transversely of the bed and are arranged in spaced parallel relation to each other 'correspondingly' with a series of match holders to be supplied with rows of matches. The curved walls of the pockets are provided with parallel imatch receiving grooves 43 which extend-from endtoendof the respective pockets and are spaced correspondingly with the-grooves of the match holders. Formed in the topof the bed adjacent the respective edges of each pocket are grooves 44 which-in conjunction withthe grooves 43 afford a number of parallel match receiving grooves correspondingwith the series of grooves to in a match holder. 3 7

Located immediately above and longitudinally of each of the'pockets-42 is an oscillatory roll 45, the lower portion of 'which'is preferably co'ncentric with the curved wall-of the pocket and is provided with longitudinally extending serrations, as 46. Each roll is fast on a' shaft 47' journaled in bearings 48 on the front and back walls of the hopper, and means are provided to effect the simultaneous oscillating of the series of rolls. These rolls serve to divide and'deiiect themassof descending matches at the-bottom of the hopper, thus distributing thexmatches in the spaces at the sides-of the rolls, whence they enter the open sides of the curved pockets and are uniformly straightened by contact with the curved walls of the latter'in such manner that the lowermost matches-arepositively seatedin the parallel grooves of-th-bd 26 by the act-ion of the oscillating serrated surfaces-of the rolls in alternation withthe oscillatory rolls 45, a

series of similar rolls 49, which also tend to' straighten and settle the descending mass of matches in the hopper. The rolls' 49 are fast on parallel shafts 50=-which are journaled in bearings 51 on the walls'of the hopper, and are,

oscillated simultaneously with. the shafts 47 of the lower rolls 45.

Any suitable means for oscillating the shafts i 47 and 50 and their respective rolls may be employed. In the present instance the two shafts "are extended .at one end beyond the rear-wall of the hopper and are provided withupstanding rock arms 52. The arms of the upper shafts are .pivotally. connected .to a' horizontally recipromatch-receiving cative bar 53, and the arms of the lower shaft are similarly connected to a lower bar 54. The respective bars are extended beyond one end of the hopper and are p-ivotally connected by a yoke 55 having an anti-friction roll 56 which is held in operative contact with a suitable cam 57 by means of'a tension: spring 58 secured to the. upper bar 53 and the adjacent wall of the hopper. The cam is fast on a driven shaft 59 .having its bearing in a bracket 60 on the adjacent end of the hopper, the contour of the cam 'being such that it cooperates with the spring to reciprocate the yoke and the bars horizontally, thus'effecting the simultaneous oscillation of the lower and upper rolls 45 and 49." In the present instance the shaft 59 has fast thereon a. sheave 590 which is connected 'with and driven from a sheave 591 on the shaft 36 by means of a belt 592.

The hopper has preferablymounted therein above the rolls 49 vertically reciprocating match partitioning and agitating blades. 61 which 'e'xtend transversely of-the hopper and longitudinally of the contained matches.- These blades are relatively long and are laterally tapered along their upper and lower portions 610 as shown, so as to ensure their "free passage amongst the opposing mass of matches'contained inthe hopper. i

-As herein illustratedthe blades are formed with fiat end extensions 62 having outwardly projecting studs or trunnions-GS- equipped withend rolls- 64; The extensions are slidably fitted in vertical slots 65 in the walls of the hopper and also in slotted guide plates 66 fixed ,exteriorly of the braced by the bifurcated ends of a rock-lever 68 which is fulcrunied, at 69, on'the adjacent wall, which lever has ail-upstanding arm '70 that is pivotally' connected to one end of a horizontally reciprocative bar 71 supported by a pin and slot connection '72 on the hopper. The bar 71'extends beyond that end of the hopper where the shaft 59 is located, and the extending ends of the two bars are united by a rod 73 provided intermediate its ends with a'roll 74 which is maintained in operative contact with an adjacent cam 75 by means of springs 76 which are secured to the respective bars 71 and the adjacent Walls of thehopper. The cam 75 is fast on a shaft 77 having its bearings brackets 78'on the end of the'hop-' per, which shaft has fast thereon a sheave 79 connected by means of a belt 80 with a sheave 81 on the lower driven shaft 59. The contour of the cam 75 issuch that the bars '71 are rapidly reciprocated,'thus concurrently rocking" the levers- 68 and vertically reciprocating the blades 61in opposite directions to each other. These blades in their rapid up and down movements agitate and tend to straighten the mass of matches in The 1,992,522 7 the blades the'm'ass of matches above-the apex of each of the'blocks-82 is slightly raised and loosened preparatory to the passage ofthe matches through the contracted'space between the apex of the block and the opposing face of the adjacent blade, and while thematches are flowing through such space and passing between the opposing lower inclined surfaces of the block and blade they are loosened and efliciently fed downwardly in close parallel relation.

' In order to prevent the accumulation of dustand slivers in the grooves of the hopper bed 26, the

latter has formed thereinducts 83 whichlead from the bottoms of the grooves to suitable exhaust chambers 84 also formed in the bed, which chambers communicate with tubesBB-leading to a suction conduit86. (See Figs. 1,3 and'8).

The rows of parallel matches seated in the grooves of the hopper bed are simultaneously ejected lengthwise, heads forward, from the grooves, by meansofappropriate groups-of similarly inclined plun'gei's 8'7 carried by a reciprocat ing cross-head 88 which is supported and guided atthe rear of the-hopper. The cross-head is pro-' vided at its ends witlr-trunnions 89 pivotally seated in bearing block's-=90 which are slidably fitted in the'upper ends'of a pair of rock-arms 91' rising from a shaft QZhavin'g its hearings in brackets 93 on the underside of the table." "Fixed to the shaft 92 is a depending arm 94 having at its lower end a roll 95 operatively' fitted inthe peripheral groove of a cam 96 fast on a driven shaft 97 having its bearings in" standards 98 on the frame bed 16. The contourof the cam 96 is such that in its rotation the arm 94'and the shaft 92' are oscillated, thereby correspondingly"swinging the arms 91 and the cross-head, andby virtue of the pivotal mounting of the latter longitudinally reciprocating the plungers 87 in parallelism with the grooves to eject the succeeding series'of rows of matches, heads forward, from the hopper bed.

The rear wall of the hopper bed has fixed thereto a series of rearwardly projecting inclined rods 99 which are slidably fittedin guide holes in the cross-head, thus effectually supporting and guiding the latter in its reciprocations.

As each series of rows ofmatch'es, heads forward, are ejected from the 'hopperbed-as previously described, the matches drop upon an underlying horizontal platform A comprising a plate having in its upper surface parallel grooves 100- which receive and support the respective rows of matches at right angles to the path of travel of the conveyer 19. Arranged in descending or step-' like order from this platform to the rearward edge of the conveyer are a series of similarly grooved platforms, B,'C,- D, E and F,'the whole being supported by-a pair of parallel step-like frame plates 101 fastened on the table. 'Means are provided whereby the rows of matches are progressively fed from the uppermost to the lowermost platform and thence inserted in the grooves of the adjacent holders of the'match conveyer, thus giving the'attendant ample opportunity to observe the condition of the'desce'nding matches and to supply vacancies, if 'any',-in the rows before the leading rows areultimately introduced in the co'nveyer.

The match feeding'means herein illustrated comprises a series of longitudinally 'reciprocative plunger plates 102 which are grooved, as at l03jin their upper surfaces similarlyto the platforms and are arranged in step-like order to slide upon the respective platforms. These'plates 102 are supported and carried by a horizontally reciprocating plunger frame'including 'a'pair of spaced parallel side bars' 10 l slidablyfitted in guide-ways 205' on the table adjacentto "and parallel with the frame p1ates 101; The upper edges of the side bars 104 are astepped correspondingly with the platforms'and are connected by'a series of tieplates 105 having spacer blocks 106 to which the successive'plunge'r plates 102- are fixedly secured. (See Figs. 4, 5,7 and9). 2 1

The platform A extends under andrearwardly of'the pocketed hopper bed 26, and the associated plungerplate 102- is slidablyi supported thereon and is connected to the underlying tie plate 105 by ,means of pins' l07 which extend through longitudinal slots 108 in the platform. The lower forward edge of this platform, and ofeach of the V succeeding platforms B, C, Dand'E,are recessed as at 109, to afford spaces for the free passage 0 the reciprocating plunger plates 102.

The-plunger frame bars 104 are connected by a tierod- 110, which in turn'ispivotally connected by links 11 1' with a pair of parallel rock-arms'112 risingfrom a lower shaft 113 having its bearings in hangers I14 bolted to the underside of the table 18. Fast on the shaft 113 is a depending arm 115 having at its lower end a roll "116 'opera'tively fitted in the grooveof a cam 11'? ion the driven shaft '97 previously mentioned; the contour of the cam groove beingsuch that in the rotation of the cam the arm '115 and the shaft-113 are os-,

cillated, thereby correspondingly swinging the arms 112, and-perforce horizontally reciprocating the plunger frame and the attached plunger plates 102 in timedrelation' to the reciprocation of the plungers'87 and the intermittent travel of the match conveyer 19. I 3

During each step of" the oonveyer the plunger frame carryin'gcthe plungerplates '102'is retracted and thecr'o'ss-head carrying the plunger 87 is moved forward, and during each, dwell of the conveyerthe plungertframe and cross-head ar'e'oppositely'moved. f

In each forward stroke of the cross-head the plungers 87' eject alseries of rows of 'matches from the grooves of the hopper bed, which matches, heads forward, fall upon'and are.

parallelly positioned in the grooves of the platform A. 'Ineach rearward stroke of the crossheadthe forwardly movingplunger plate 102 on thisplatform'bearsagainst the opposing ends of the rows ofmatches' on the platform and pushes the ro-ws from the platformg so that they drop, heads forward, upon theupper grooved surface of the f orwardlymovin'g plunger plate of the plat form B. As this latter-plate continues its for ward :stroke it carries the superposed rows of matches therewith and supports them' above the platform B. In'the next succeeding rearward 7 plates until the matches'are' finally positioned inthe grooves of the lowermost platform F, whereupon in the succeeding forward stroke of the lowermost plunger plate'they are introduced in-thegrooves in the holders'of the conveyer;

- From the foregoing it will be seen that the rows of parallel matches successively ejected from the hopper by the plungers 8'7 are fed progressively downward to the lowermost platform F, preparatory. to their entry in the holders of the conveyer, and that during their downward progress such matches are visible and accessible to the operator as hereinbefore mentioned.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular structures and mechanisms herein disclosed as'the same may be variously modified within the principle of the invention and the scope-of the appended claims.

I claim-- 1. Inmatch arranging and feeding mechanism, the combination witha conveyer to receive and support a succession of rows of matches extending transversely of the path of the conveyer, of a series of 'match supporting platforms extending outwardly in ascending step-like formation from one side of the conveyer, and having corresponding rows of match-receiving grooves in their upper surfaces, means for supplying successive rows of matches to the uppermost platform, means for progressively feeding the matches from the uppermost to the lowermost platform, and means for transferring the matches from the lowermost platform to the said match conveyer.

2.- In match arranging and feeding mechanism, the combination with a conveyer to receive and support a succession of rows of matches extending transversely of the path of the conveyer, of a series of match supporting platforms extending outwardly in ascending step-like formation from one side of the conveyer, and having corresponding rows of match-receiving grooves in their upper surfaces, means for supplying successive rows of matches to the'uppermost platform, plungers reciprocable transversely of the respective platforms and operable to feed the matches progressively from the uppermost to the lowermost platform and transfer them from the latter platform to the conveyer, and means for simultaneously actuating said plungers in timed relation to the match supplying means and the conveyer.

3. In match arranging and feeding mechanism, the combination with a conveyer to receive and support a succession of rows of matches extending transversely of the path. of the conveyer, of a series of match supporting platforms extending outwardly in ascending step-like formation from one side of the conveyer, and having corresponding rows of match-receiving grooves in. their upper surfaces, means for supplying successive rows of matches to the uppermost platform, plungers reciprocable upon the respective platforms and operable to feed the matches progressively from the uppermost to the. lowermost platform and transfer them from the latter platform to the conveyer; the plungers succeeding the uppermostplunger having in their upper surfaces rows of match-receiving grooves corresponding with the grooves of the platforms, and means for simultaneously actuating said plungers in timed relation to the match supplying means and the conveyer.

4. In match arranging and feeding mechanism. the combination with a conveyer to receive and support a succession of rows of matches extending transversely of'the path of the conveyer,,of a supporting structure at one side of the conveyer, a series of match supporting platforms arranged on said structure in ascending steplike formation from the conveyer and having corresponding rows of match-reeeivinggrooves in their upper surfaces, means for supplying successiverows of matches to the-uppermost platform, a plunger structure underlying said platforms :andreciprocable toward and from the conveyer, a series of plungers arranged on said plunger-structure in step-like formation and 013-,

erable to feed the matches progressively from the uppermost to the lowermost platform and transferathem' from the latter platform to the conveyer, and means for reciprocating said plunger structurein timed relationto the match supplying meansand the conveyer.

5. In match arrangingand feeding mechanism, the combination with a conveyer to receive and support a succession of rows of matches extending transversely of'the path of the conveyer, of a supportingstructure at one side of the conveyer, a series of match-supporting platforms arranged on said structure in ascending step-like formation from the conveyer and having corresponding rowsofmatch-receiving grooves in their upper surfaces, means for supplying successive rows of matches to the uppermost platform, a plungerstructure underlying said platforms and reciprocable toward and from the conveyer, a series of plungers arranged on said-plunger structure in step-like formation and operable to feed the matches progressively from the uppermost to the lowermost platform ,and transfer them from the latter;platform to the conveyer, the plungers succeeding the uppermost plunger having in their upper surfaces rows of match-receiving grooves corresponding with the grooves of the platform, and means for reciprocating said plunger structure in timed relation to the match supplying means and the conveyer. I

6. In match arranging and feeding mechanism, a match hopper, a bed therefor having a concave match receiving ocket in the wall of which throughout its width are a series of spaced parallel longitudinally extending match-receiving grooves, an oscillatory member overlying said pocket and having an axis of oscillation longitudinally of thepocket, said member having a convex surface to 'bear upon the matches contained in the pocket, means for actuating said member, and means for ejecting the matches endwise from the grooves of the pocket.

7. In match arranging and feedingmechanism, amatch hopper, a bed therefor having a concave match receiving pocket in the wall of which throughout its width'are a series of spaced parallel longitudinally extending match-receiving grooves, means for vertically agitating said bed and hopper, an oscillatory'member overlying said pocket and having an axis of oscillation longitudinally of the pocket, said member having a convex surface to bear upon the matches contained in the pocket, means for actuating said member, and means for ejecting the matches endwise from the grooves of the pocket.

8. In match arranging and feeding mechanism, a match hopper, a bed therefor having a concave match receiving pocket in the wall of which are a series of spaced parallel longitudinally extending match-receiving grooves, means for vertically agitating said bed and hopper, a roll overlying said pocket and substantially concentric with the wall of the pocket, means for oscillating said roll,,and means for ejecting the matches endwise from the grooves of the pocket. 7

Y 9. In match arranging and feeding mechanism,

a matchihopper, a bedtherefor having a concave match receiving pocket in the wall of which are a series of spacedparallel longitudinally extending match-receiving grooves, means for vertically agitating said bed and hopper, a roll overlying said pocket and having a serrated lower surface substantially concentric with the wall of the pocket, means for oscillating said roll, and means for ejecting the matches endwise from the grooves of the pocket.

10. In match arranging and feeding mechanism, a match hopper, a bed therefor having a concave match receiving pocket in the wall of which are a series of spaced parallel longitudinally extending match-receiving grooves, suction means 7 communicating with the respective grooves, an oscillatory member overlying said pocket and having an axis of V oscillation longitudinally of the pocket, means for actuating said member, and means for ejecting the matches endwise from the grooves of the pocket.

11. In match arranging and feeding mechanism, a match hopper, a bed therefor having a plurality of concave match-receiving pockets in the wall of each of which throughout its width are a series of spaced parallel longitudinally-extending match-receiving grooves, means for ejecting rows of matches endwise from said grooves, a plurality of oscillatory rolls mounted in said hopper at the mouths of the respective pockets to bear upon thematches contained in the pockets, said rolls having their axes of oscillation longitudinally of the matches, a plurality of oscillatory rolls mounted in said hopper above and in alternation with the first named rolls, and means for simultaneously oscillating said upper and lower rolls.

12. In match arranging and feeding mechanism, a match hopper whereof the end walls are provided on their inner surfaces with angulated projections having upper and lower oppositely inclined faces and extending longitudinally of the- 13. In match arranging and feeding mechanism, a match hopper, a bed therefor, means for ejecting rows of spaced parallel matches endwise from said bed, a plurality of rows of oscillatory rolls mounted in said hopper above the bed and longitudinally of the matches contained in the hopper, means for simultaneously oscillating said rolls, a plurality of vertically-disposed agitating and straightening blades mounted in said hopper above and parallel with the rolls, and means for reciprocating said blades vertically in opposite directions to each other.

14. In mechanism for arranging matches and feeding them row-wise into a holder, a series of match supporting platforms arrangedin ascending step-like formation and having corresponding rows of match-receiving grooves in their upper surfaces, means for supplying successive rows of matches to the uppermost platform, means for progressively feeding the matches from the up- 7 

